Ehgihe-stakter



V. BENDIX.

ENGINE STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31, 1919.

Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

tmrrn VINCENT BENDIX, 0E CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ENGINE-STARTER.

Application filed March 31, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ViNcnN'r BENDIX, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and use ful Improvements in Engine- Starters, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My inventionrelates to a starter for an engine such as an internalcombustion engine and the object thereof is to produce an automaticdrive or transmission therefor of novel and eflicient constructionandmode of o eration.

l y new construction of drive belongs to that general type asexemplified by patents heretofore issued to me such as Patent No.1,125,935 dated January 26, 1915, and No. 1,274,370 dated August 6,1918, according to which a driving member, whether the pinion itselfwhich engages the engine member such as the fly wheel or a separatemember which controls such a pinion, is mounted on a rotatable shaftsuch as a screw shaft and automatically causes engagement of the drivewith and its disengagement from the engine member after the engine hasstarted on its own power.

One of the main objects of my invention is to relieve the rotatablemember or screw shaft of the driving load and to place such load upon aseparate shaft which may be directly or indirectly driven by thestarting motor or other source of power, and on which the driving pinionmay be rather closely fitted instead of the necessarily loose fit ifsuch pinion were mounted upon a screw shaft. Moreover my constructionenables the shifting mechanism to be made comparatively small and lightand the ac tual driving parts to be made of any size according to theparticular requirements as to load or location.

My present invention relates more particularly to the construction ofthe driving member which is provided with yielding driving means capableof absorbing the shock of impact of the teeth of such member with. thefly wheel in case of end to endengagement and also capable of yieldinglydriving the engine member or fly wheel dur ing; the starting operation.

n the drawing the figure thereof is a sectional elevation of a starterembodying my invention.

Referring to the particular embodiment of my invention, the same isselected as one Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

Serial No. 288,386.

of various forms of which my invention may partake. Moreover, while Ihave shown the drive as direct-driven by the extended armature shaft ofa motor, it will be understood that it may be be indirectly driven andalso while I have shown the so-called inboard type of drive, the otheror outboard type may be employed.

As shown, the driving shaft 1 is the eX- tended armature shaft of astarting motor indicated at A. To this shaft there is se cured as bymeans of the key 2 a gear 3, the same being in the present instancelocated adjacent the motor. Upon this driving shaft is mounted forlongitudinal move ment thereof and rotary movement there with, a drivingmember of novel construction and constitutin the subject matter of thisinvention. As shown, the driving member is composed of two main parts,to wit, a driving sleeve 4 fitting rather loosely upon the driving shaftand adapted to slide thereon. The outer or right hand end of this sleeveis enlarged to form a driving head,

and the same is provided at its extreme outer end with a gear 5. Thisgear which is formed separate or integral with the sleeve (but hereformed separate) is a shroud gear inasmuch as the flanges 6 and 7encompass the gear, the flange 7 being here an annulus secured to thesleeve by the screws 8 which also serve to hold the gear 5 in place.

Upon the sleeve 4 the driving member proper is mounted, the same beinghere in the form of a pinion 9 adapted to engage with the enginemembersuch as with the teeth 10 of the fly wheel 10. This pinion isoperatively connected with the sleeve by a yielding driving connectionwhich as shown consists of a coiled drivin spring 11 connected at oneend to the s eeve head P by the stud 12 and at the other end to thepinion by the stud 13. By reason of this construction the power ortorque is transmitted from the sleeve to the pinion in a yielding mannerinasmuch. as the drive is through the spring 11 and the pinion iscapable of a rotary movement with respect to the sleeve, besides whlch1t 1S capable of an lndependent longitudinal motion with respect theretowhich is yieldingly resisted by the spring, as hereinafter explained.

Suitable clutch means are provided for the purpose of transmitting thepower or torque from the driving shaft 1 to the sleeve 4 when thedriving member is moved longitudinally tothe left into driving position.In the present instance such clutch means consists of clutch jaws 142 onthe inner end of the sleeve 4 and complementary clutch jaws 15 on theouter end of the hub 3 of the gear 3. As a result of this constructionthe torque or load is transmitted from the driving shaft 1, indirectlytherefrom through the gear hub 3 to the sleeve 1, thence through thedriving spring 11 to the pinion 9, and finally to the fly wheel.

Means for automatically controlling the driving member in itslongitudinal movement for meshing with and demeshing from the fly wheel.is mounted entirely extraneous of the driving shaft and the drivingmember, and the same does not carry any of the driving load. In thepresent, instance this shifting means is mounted on an axis parallel tothe longitudinal axis of the driving shaft 1.

As shown, the shifting means comprises essentially a rotatable shaft 16and a control member. or gear 17 mounted thereon. The shaft 16. is.mounted in suitable manner as in thebearings 18 and 19 supporting itsouter ends and located in a casing or bracket 20. To the inner end ofthe shaft 16 there is secured in suitable manner, as by means of the pin21, a gear 22 in constant mesh with the gear 3, whereby the shafts 1 and16 always rotatevtogether. The shaft 16 has a screw-threaded portion 16on which the gear 17 is threaded, whereby when the shaft is rotated thisgear will be automatically ad vanced longitudinally to the left and alsowill be automatically retracted to its normal or disengaged positionshown in the drawing when the engine starts on its own power ashereinafter explained. This gear 17 is in constant mesh with the gear ofthe driving member and is operatively connected therewith in suchmannerthat its longitudinal movements will be communicated to thedriving member in order to shift or slide the latter along the drivingshaft 1.

Describing a cycle of operation and beginning with the parts in theirnormal position shown, the rotation of the motor and the driving shaftwill cause a rotation of the parallel or countershaft 16. As a resultthe gear 17 will be advanced longitudinally to the left carrying with itthe driving member. The pinion thereof will now be brought into meshwith the fly wheel and upon full mesh being obtained the clutch jaws 14and 15 will engage and the driving member will thereupon be drivenpositively by the driving shaft through said clutch, the driving sleeve,drive spring and pinion 9. When the engine starts on its own power theexcess speed of rotation resulting therefrom will cause the automaticretracting movement of the gear 17 to the right along the screw shaft,carrying the driving member in the same direction and demeshing thepinion 9 from the fly wheel.

In the described driving operation the pinion 9 is adapted to yieldrotarily according to the varying resistances presented by the flywheel, especially when the engine goes over the compression points. Thisyielding is due to the presence of the drive spring 1.1 which not onlyhas the function of transmitting torque but the function of yielding forthe purpose stated.

In the event that the pinion teeth and the fly wheel teeth should abutend to end the pinion will become momentarily stopped in itslongitudinal movement but the sleeve 1 will continue in its longitudinalmovement against the compression action of the drive spring 11 whichyields and permits of said relative movement between the pinion and thesleeve and thereby absorbs the shock of this abutting condition. Thepinion will thereupon rotate slightly so that its teeth will come intoregister with the fly wheel teeth, whereupon full mesh will be obtained.

The two sets of gearing represented by the gears 3 and 22 in one set and5 and 17 in the other set, have a certain relationship. These gears mustbe of the same diameter and number of teeth or else present the samegear reduction between their individual members.

If desired suitable means may be employed for holding saidlongitudinally movable parts in their normal or disengaged position atthe time when the shafts are still rotating. In the present instancesuch means cooperate directly with the gear 17, the same consisting of aspring-pressed pin or rod 23 sliding transversely through the screwshaft and having a pair of lateral arms 24 and 25 in which slides alatch 26. The pin is spring-pressed by means of the sprino' 27 and thelatch by the spring 28. This device is speed-controlled inasmuch as whenthe screw shaft is rotating the pin 23 and its latch 26 will be thrownoutwardly by centrifugal force in such position that said latch willengage behind the flange 29 of a shell 29 secured to the gear 17. Thepurpose of this catch device is to hold the gear 17 and consequently thedriving member in retracted position during the time when the shafts maybe still rotating so that the driving member will not tend to movetoward or clash with the rotating fly wheel. When the shafts and theirassociated parts come to rest the catch device will assume its normalposition shown in the drawing in which the latch is disengaged from theshell.

I claim:

1. In an engine starter, a drive comprising a driving shaft, drivingmeans mounted thereon for longitudinal movement thereof to engage amember of the engine to be started and for rotary movement therewith forrotating such engine member, such driving means including a yieldingdriving element, and shifting means mounted eX- traneous of such shaftand cooperating with the driving means to control the engaging anddisengaging movements thereof.

2. lln an engine starter, a drive comprising a driving shaft, drivingmeans mounted thereon for longitudinal movement thereof to engage amember of the engine to be started and for rotary movement therewith forrotating such engine member, and also mounted for rotary movement withrespect thereto, such driving means including a yielding drivingelement, and shifting means mounted extraneous of such shaft andcooperating with the drivingmeans to control the engaging anddisengaging movements thereof.

3. In an engine starter, a drive comprising a driving shaft, drivingmeans mounted thereon for longitudinal movement thereof to engage amember of the engine to be started and for rotary movement therewith forrotating such engine member, such driving means including in itsstructure a spring driving connection, and shifting means mountedextraneous of such shaft and cooperating with the driving means tocontrol the engaging and disengaging movements thereof.

4. In an engine starter, a drive comprising a driving shaft, drivingmeans mounted thereon for longitudinal movement thereof to engage amember of the engine to be started and for rotary movement therewith forrotating such engine member, such driving means including a sleeveslidable on the shaft and adapted to be drivenly connected therewithupon its advance longitudinal movement, a driving member slidable on thesleeve and adapted to engage the engine member on such advancelongitudinal move-- ment of the sleeve, a driving connection between thesleeve and the driving member, and shifting means mounted extraneous ofsuch shaft and cooperating with the driving means to control theengaging and disengaging movements thereof.

5. In an engine starter, a drive comprising a driving shaft, drivingmeans mounted thereon for longitudinal movement thereof to engage amember of the engine to be started and for rotary movement therewith forrotating such engine member, such driving means including a sleeveslidable on the shaft and adapted to be drivcnly connected therewithupon its advance longitudinal movement, a driving member slidable on thesleeve and adapted to engage the engine member on such advancelongitudinal move ment of the sleeve, a spring driving connectionbetween the sleeve and the driving member, and shifting means mountedextraneous of such shaft and cooperating with the driving means tocontrol the engaging and disengaging movements thereof.

6. In an engine starter, a drive comprising a driving shaft, drivingmeans mounted thereon for longitudinal movement thereof to engage amember of the engine to be started and for rotary movement therewith forrotating such engine member, such driving means including a sleeveslidable on the shaft and adapted to be drivenly connected therewithupon its advance longitudinal movement, a driving member slidable on thesleeve and adapted to engage the engine member on such advancelongitudinal movement of the sleeve, a spring coiled around such sleeveand interposed between it and the driving member to drive the latter andalso yieldingly resist its sliding movement on the sleeve, and shiftingmeans mounted extraneous of such shaft and cooperating with the sleeveto control the engaging and disengaging movements of the shifting means.

7. In an engine starter, a drive comprising a driving shaft, drivingmeans mounted thereon for longitudinal movement thereof to engage amember of the engine to be started and for rotary movement therewith forrotating such engine member, such driving means including a sleeveslidable on the shaft and adapted to be drivenly connected therewithupon its advance longitudinal movement, a driving member slidable on thesleeve and adapted to engage the engine member on such advancelongitudinal movement of the sleeve, a driving connection between thesleeve and the driving member, such sleeve having a gear portion, andshift ing means mounted extraneous of such shaft, and including alongitudinally shifting gear in constant mesh with the gear portion ofthe sleeve and adapted to control the longitudinal movements thereof.

8. In an engine starter, a drive comprising a driving shaft, drivingmeans mounted thereon for longitudinal movement thereof to engage amember of the engine to be started and for rotary movement therewith forrotating such engine member, such driving means including a sleeveslidable on the shaft and adapted to be drivenly connected therewithupon its advance longitudi nal movement, a driving member slidable onthe sleeve and adapted to engage the engine member on such advancelongitudinal move ment of the sleeve, a driving connection between thesleeve and the driving member, such sleeve having a gear portion, andshifting means mounted extraneous of such shaft, and including a secondshaft parallel with the driving shaft and driven thereby, and a gearlongitudinally and automatically shiftable thereon by reason of theirrelative movements, subh gear being arranged to mesh With said gearportion of the sleeve.

9; In an engine starter, a drive comprising a driving shaft, drivingmeans mounted thereon for longitudinal movement thereof to engage amember of the engine to be started and for rotary movement therewith forrotating such engine member, such driving means including a sleeveslidable on the shaft and adapted to be drivenly connected therewithupon its advance longitudinal movement, a driving member slidable on thesleeve and adapted to engage the engine member on such advancelongitudinal movement of the sleeve, a driving connec tion between thesleeve and the driving member, such sleeve having a gear portion, andshifting means mounted extraneous of such shaft, and including a secondshaft parallel With the driving shaft and driven thereby, such secondshaft having a screW- threaded portion, and a gear threaded onsuchscreW-threaded portion and arranged to mesh with said gear portionof the sleeve.

10. In an engine starter, a drive comprising a driving shaft, drivingmeans mounted thereon for longitudinal movement thereof to engage amember of the engine to be started and for rotary movement therewith forrotating such engine member, such driving means including a sleeveslidable on the shaft and adapted to be drivenly connected therewithupon its advance longitudinal movement, a driving member slidable on thesleeve and adapted to engage the engine memher on such advancelongitudinal movement of the sleeve, such sleeve having an enlarged endforming a driving head and a gear portion, a drive spring connected atits ends respectively With the driving head and the driving member, andshifting means mounted extraneous of such shaft and including alongitudinally shifting gear in constant mesh With said gear portion andadapted to control the longitudinal movements thereof.

VINCENT BENDIX.

